Glaciology, Paleoclimate and Geoengineering

Research Professor John Moore leads the research team. His Particular aspects of interest include: ice sheet dynamics and sea level rise, climate system modelling; extreme events such as downscaling for tropical cyclones and their economic impacts.

He leads the Chinese geoengineering project focussed on Earth System Model simulations of climate engineering. At the moment he is based most of the time at the College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University.

The tools used to answer these questions are:

Advanced ice sheet models simulating Antarctica and smaller glaciers and ice caps and their response to climate forcing over the next 2 centuries

Earth System Models on super computers to simulate the response of the earth to changing climate, and potential geoengineering methods of moderating greenhouse gas warming.

Mathematical modelling and analysis of proxy climate records to determine natural modes of variability in the system

What is Geoengineering?

Geoengineering also referred to as climate engineering, is deliberate and large-scale intervention of Earth’s climate system in order to mitigate climate warming. Two kinds of techniques are involved in geoengineering, Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) and Solar Radiation Management (SRM). CDR is removing greenhouse gases out of atmosphere and SRM attempts to offset greenhouse effect by reducing solar energy absorption. Emission control is always the first option to mitigate climate warming, and geoengineering could serve as a backup plan.

Research Outputs

Antarctic Ice Sheet will play important role in sea level rise

Research Professor John Moore from the Arctic Centre is leading a project, where a computer model of the Antarctic Ice Sheet is used to simulate its behaviour in response to changing climate. This research will help to provide estimates of the future contribution of the Antarctic Ice Sheet to sea level change.
According to John Moore, the largest uncertainty to sea level rise is what happens to Antarctica. Now, according to models, it ranges from lowering the sea level 10 centimeters to an increase in more than a meter.